'I used to skip PE but now compete with the best'

A mother who started lifting "baby weights" after struggling with post-natal depression is set to compete with the world's strongest women.

Andrea Seed, from Lancashire, is travelling to Madison, Wisconsin, USA, to take part in the Official Strongman Games next month.

The 41-year-old, who works in adult social care, said she wanted to inspire others "that you can be whatever you want to be".

"I've no background in sports, and I always skipped PE at school, but now I'm ready to compete with the best in the world," she said.

Ms Seed said she felt she "lost" herself a little bit following the birth of her son.

Then someone told her about a strong man gym in Preston and it turned her life round.

"They sort of took me in," she said.

"I started lifting weights and I was ok at it, which is not something I've ever really experienced before."

She said she "wasn't feeling too great mentally" but found that "by succeeding in something and making my body strong" she found "a bit more of a purpose".

"For me it was about finding my potential and believing in myself a little bit," she added.

In 2021, she won Britain's Strongest Natural Woman and earlier this year she came fourth in Europe's Strongest Woman competition.

Ms Seed, who works in Lancashire County Council's adult social care team, said she wanted to inspire others "of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances that you can be whatever you want to be".

She will be one of hundreds of athletes from 35 countries taking part in the event which starts on 5 December.

She will take part in four gruelling events in the over 40s masters category against 10 competitors.

They include carrying the frame of a car on her back, lifting a metal log and carrying and pushing sandbags on a sledge, and axle deadlift.

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